Truss table apparatus with automatic truss movement assembly and method

Abstract

A truss assembly apparatus and method for assembling a truss utilizing the apparatus are presented, the apparatus comprising a truss table having a work surface with a first and second assembly zone. A first clamping assembly has a movable first clamp rail for clamping the truss in the first assembly zone, the first clamp rail having at least one flip-arm recess therein. A flip-over assembly has at least one flip-over arm movable relative to the work surface for moving the truss from a first truss position in the first assembly zone to a second truss position in the second assembly zone, the flip-over arm movable into the flip-arm recess of the first clamp rail. The apparatus may have a plurality of such recesses and flip arms. The truss assembly apparatus may further comprise a second clamping assembly having a movable second clamp rail for clamping the truss in the second assembly zone, the second clamp rail having a flip-arm recess therein movable into the flip-arm recess of the second clamp rail. The truss assembly apparatus may further comprise a lift-out arm movable relative to the work surface for moving a truss from the second truss position to a finished position spaced from the work surface where the second clamp rail has at least one lift-out arm recess, the lift-out arm movable through the lift-out arm recess. The lift-out assembly may comprise a plurality of lift-out arms movable through a plurality of corresponding lift-out recesses. The truss assembly apparatus may also have flip-over arms with clamp-rail recesses, wherein the flip-over arms are movable such that at least a portion of the first clamp rail and possibly a portion of the second clamp rail are positioned in the clamp-rail recess of the flip-over arms.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.